Orrville honors veterans by rail

As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, the sound of train horns and steel wheels rolling through Orrville served as a reminder the nation’s story was not built only through battlefields and historic speeches, but also along rail lines that connected communities and helped shape the country itself.

The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society recently offered free train rides to veterans and a guest as part of local America250 efforts.

“We wanted a way to give back to the community, thank them and honor veterans, active-duty service members and first responders,” said Blake Schenk, Orrville Railroad Heritage Society marketing coordinator. “We’re proud of the turnout we’ve had. It’s nice to see community support and to keep this history alive.”

Railroads transformed America during the 19th and 20th centuries, accelerating westward expansion, linking industries, moving military equipment and personnel, and allowing goods to reach communities on a scale never before possible.

For Orrville, rail history is inseparable from the city’s own origins.

“Orrville pretty much owes its existence to the railroad,” said Eric Schlentner, webmaster and mechanic with the society. “Originally, the town was founded as a fuel stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad. It just kind of grew up around the railroads that happened to come together right here.”

Over time Orrville evolved into an agricultural and shipping center where livestock, grain and supplies moved in and out by rail. Today, trains still serve local industries and continue carrying freight across the country.

Schlentner said rail remains one of the most efficient forms of transportation for moving large amounts of cargo.

“Everything from fertilizer to finished products still moves by rail,” he said.

One of the event’s most significant pieces of history sat directly behind one of the operating locomotives.

The Orrville Railroad Heritage Society recently restored a historic Alco RSD-1 locomotive built in 1945 that served during World War II. The locomotive spent time on the Trans-Iranian Railway, helping move wartime supplies to the Soviet Union during the Allied effort.

After returning from overseas service, the locomotive eventually returned to the United States and later became part of the equipment on the Orrville property.

According to Schlentner, a team of Railroad Society volunteers spent more than a year restoring the engine after it had sat idle for approximately three decades.

The locomotive serves as more than a restored machine. For visitors climbing aboard the train during the Memorial Day weekend event, it became a rolling reminder of how transportation and sacrifice often moved together throughout American history.

Organizers said events such as the train rides offer opportunities for people to reconnect with stories that helped build the country and their communities.

To learn more about the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society, visit www.orrvillerailroad.com or call 330-683-2426.

Dan Starcher is the communications coordinator for Wayne County.